NHL Rumor Mill – August 13, 2022
Canadiens goalie Jake Allen surfaces in trade gossip, some left wing options for the Jets and possible trade partners for the Penguins in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
COULD THE CANADIENS TRADE JAKE ALLEN?
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy cites an NHL source claiming the Dallas Stars and Arizona Coyotes had inquired about Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen in the past. The source believes it would make sense for both clubs to revisit their previous interest once Carey Price’s situation becomes clearer.
The source told Murphy that the Stars could use Allen if Jake Oettinger hasn’t been signed by the time the season starts or if he stages a holdout during training camp. The Coyotes, meanwhile, need another goalie to back up Karel Vejmelka.
Murphy’s colleague Marco D’Amico followed up by suggesting managing their salary cap, roster and other assets could explain why it might make sense for the Canadiens to move Allen before the season begins. Testing the trade waters on Allen would be wise, especially if Price is trending in the right direction health-wise.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oettinger could stage a holdout during training camp or during the start of the season. However, I’ll be surprised if things reach that point. The Stars have the cap room to sign him and fellow rising star Jason Robertson to short-term contracts with the promise of more lucrative deals in the near future.
Allen surfaced as a possible trade option for the Vegas Golden Knights to replace sidelined starting goalie Robin Lehner. The Canadiens have Sam Montembeault also under contract for the coming season and he could be a more affordable backup for Price.
The Habs aren’t under any pressure right now to move Allen. They could be willing to part with him if Price has recovered from the complications arising from last year’s knee surgery that sidelined him for most of last season. On the other hand, they could prefer keeping the reliable Allen to ensure Price isn’t overworked.
If Price remains sidelined, some suggest the Canadiens trade Allen anyway, go with a tandem of Montembeault and Cayden Primeau, and tank the season to improve their odds of winning the draft lottery again. However, that can have a damaging effect on team morale, especially in a rebuilding club. It could also do irreparable harm to Primeau’s development.
JETS STILL NEED A LEFT WINGER
SPORTSNET: Ken Wiebe recently reported the Winnipeg Jets could use a third-line left winger. Possible internal options to address that need include Jansen Harkins or Morgan Barron. If they wish to look outside the organization, trade options could include the Arizona Coyotes’ Lawson Crouse or the Edmonton Oilers’ Jesse Puljujarvi.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wiebe’s article appeared before the Coyotes signed Crouse to a five-year, $21.5 million contract on Aug. 8. Puljujarvi, meanwhile, agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with the Oilers, fueling speculation that it could improve his trade value. However, there’s no certainty he’ll hit the trade block during the offseason.
THE ATHLETIC: Murat Ates also noted the Jets’ need for a third-line forward who can play top-six minutes in a pinch. Possible free-agent options include Sonny Milano, Evan Rodrigues, and Tyler Motte.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets have over $6 million in cap space for the coming season with 19 roster players under contract. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff can draw upon his glut of defensemen to make a trade for a suitable third-line forward. However, I think he’ll have better luck addressing that need through free agency where some affordable options remain.
POSSIBLE PENGUINS TRADE PARTNERS
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: With the Penguins sitting over the $82.5 million salary cap by $1.4 million for the coming season, Dan Kingerski listed four teams that could become trade partners that could be willing to take on salary.
The Buffalo Sabres, Arizona Coyotes, Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks are all rebuilding clubs with considerable cap space for 2022-23. They could be willing to take on a salaried veteran if he’s packaged with a draft pick or prospect.
Kingerski listed Marcus Pettersson, Brian Dumoulin, Jason Zucker and Teddy Blueger as potential trade candidates. Kasperi Kapanen could be another despite signing a two-year deal worth $3.2 million annually.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Plenty of time remains for the Penguins to become cap compliant. My guess is they’ll draw from their blueline corps for a trade candidate, possibly shopping Pettersson or Dumoulin.
Price will no longer be able to play professional hockey
So you could say his knees paid the Price.
I understand what you are thinking and maybe predicting but Price has tons of passion for the game and maybe he starts to feel like he has a few great games/or series left in him.
God has spoken. All yee repent. Before it is too late.
Price will make his own decision as to if he will be able to play up to his standard similar to whatRask did last year
Sweeney is milking it for the press lol. That makes me laugh. Him too I bet
Don’t forget this infamous quote” The Bruins Are Built for the playoffs,”What a schmuck!
Gee, who was it said: “Eichel is a lock to end up with Boston”?
The thing with Price is he could go down at any point in the season .
What’s up with Sam Steel ?
Primeau and Montambault isnt a viable NHL option. Montambault was signed to back up Allen in case of Price not able to play.
Nothing will happen until we know what’s going to happen with Price. And, as SilverSeven said, even if Price comes back, he can go down anytime during the season.
There are other options to address cap issues.
Primeau’s season was hurt last year because of his constant yo-yoing between Montreal and Laval. He needs a full season in the AHL before he can hopefully come to the Habs full time. That’s why both Allen and Montembeault are needed in case Price can’t go.
I wouldn’t surprise at all if Jim Nill was looking at another Goaltender. Remember that last year, Oettinger was #4 on the Stars goalie depth chart, behind Bishop, Holtby, and Khudobin. He brought in Wedgewood at the end of last year, and though it’s a very small sample size, Wedgewood played well enough to earn him a one year deal. If they could bring in Allen, I’m guessing that Radek Faksa or Denis Gurianov would be going the other way.
Jim should actually be looking at what the Ott did during last years playoffs. He was stellar and I get that goalies can be like a fawcett and turn on the cold instead of the hot but when a tender performs like that….you sign him or someone else is going to steal your spotlight and I can’t see the stars being in the bright spotlight without a good tender behind them.
also just to add- I thought Prosetov was a good back up for Arizona and if he became available here is a goalie that other teams may want to ave on board…i.e. Vegas for a cheap option to start the year and who knows maybe finish the year as well. They are on cap trouble and have no 2nd to offer up for a true #1 starter. Again I wonder also about Mike Smith and maybe he can help fill the net in a pinch on the cheap.
I could handle Mike Smith as a back up to Oettinger. Finish it up, where it all started in Big D.
SilverSeven, after 197 NHL gp, and scoring 24g 41a 65 pts with a collective -17, it seems Anaheim didn’t see much future for Sam Steel, a one-time 30th overall pick, and so didn’t bother offering him a qualifying offer after his $847,125 ELC had expired, making him a UFA. Which he still is today so clearly no one else sees much in him either – so far anyway. His 82 game averages are 10g 17a 27 pts
Same with another 1st round pick (16th overall), Sonny Milano who was coming off a $1.7 mil cap hit – and he had better stats with 14g 20a 34 pts in 66gp. Curiously, he has also played 197 NHL games – with Columbus and Anaheim – and in that span has 36g 45a 81 pts and a collective -26. His 82-game averages are 15g 19a 34 pts.
With 22 signed and $18,848,333 in cap space, it’s not as if Anaheim couldn’t have re-upped both offers no higher than $2 mil per each with plenty to spare. But they seem more interested in 6′ 4″ 230lb LW Dmitry Osipov who is going to camp on a PTO after bouncing around the minors since since 2017-18.
Meanwhile, both Steel and Milano are still hoping someone takes an interest.
Milano or Kessel would be a thrifty option in Carolia till Patches returns.
Steel and Milano are probably the youngest – and highest drafted – still floating about as UFAs with no takers – so far anyway (see the list below). The thing is, there are realistically just 5 teams with sufficient cap space and no RFAs left to re-up and, outside of Kadri who will easily cost the most, capable of offering ANY of them new deals: Buffalo, with $19,604,166 in cap space with 22 signed; Chicago, with $8,490,704 in cap space with 21 signed; Winnipeg, with $6,279,643 in cap space and 19 signed; Minnesota, with $4,313,079 in cap space and 20 signed; and, strangely enough. the Cup champion Avalanche with #3,910,000 in cap space and 21 signed.
Among those with varying amounts of cap space, these will see that shaved down to some considerable degree after their remaining RFAs are settled: New York Islanders – $11,186,037 in cap space with 19 signed and RFAs Bellows, Dobson and Romanov left to re-sign; Dallas – $10,335,834 in cap space with 21 signed and RFAs Robertson and Oettinger left to re-sign; Ottawa – $7,940,119 in cap space with 19 signed – RFAs Formenton and Brannstrom left to re-sign; Calgary – $2,761,667 in cap spave with 20 signed and RFA Ruzicka left to re-sign. So, barring other moves, it’s doubtful any of these will be dipping into the UFA pool.
That leaves just two with RFAs left to re-up, but likely still enough to offer deals to some of the UFAs: Detroit, with $9,246,111 in cap space, 23 signed, and only RFA Zadina to re-up; and Arizona, with 22 signed, only RFA Hayton left to re-up and a whopping $20,363,291 in cap space. They could bring in several if they were so inclined.
The best of what’s left among UFAs are:
Centres: Nazem Kadri – coming off a cap hit of $4.5 mil – 28g 59a 87 pts +13 and added 7g 8a 15 pts in the playoffs (16 gp) for Col – turns 32 in October; Paul Stastny – coming off a cap hit of $3,750,000 21g 24a 45 pts + 14 in 71gp for Wpg – turns 37 in December; Evan Rodrigues – coming off a cap hit of $1 mil – 19g 24a 43 pts + 3 in 82gp – added 3g 2a 5 pts in 7 playoff games for Pitt – turned 29 in July; Sam Gagner – coming off a cap hit of $850,000 – 13g 18a 31 pts -4 in 81 gp for Det – turns 33 on Aug 10; Derek Stepan – coming off a cap hit of $1,350,000 – 9g 10a 19 pts +/- 0 in 58 gp for Car – turned 32 in June; Victor Rask – coming off a cap hit of $4 mil – 9g 12a 21 pts +4 in 47gp for Minn/Sea – turns 30 in March
RW: Phil Kessell – coming off a cap hit of $8 mil – 8g 44a 52 pts -24 in 82gp for Ariz – turns 35 on Oct 2
LW: Sonny Milano – coming off a cap hit of $1.7 mil – 14g 20a 34 pts -9 in 66 gp for Anaheim – turned 26 in May; Sam Steel – coming off a cap hit of $874,000 – 6g 14a 20 pts -17 in 68gp for Anaheim – turns 25 on Feb 7
RD: P. K. Subban – coming off a cap hit of $9 mil – 5g 17a 22 pts -8 in 77 gp for NJ – turned 33 in May; Anton Stralman – coming off a cap hit of $5.5 mil – 8g 15a 23 pts -16 in 74 gp for Ariz – turned 36 on Aug 1; Calvin de Haan – coming off a cap hit of $4,550,000 – 4g 4a 8 pts -21 in 69 gp for Chic – turned 31 in May
LD: Zdeno Chara – coming off a cap hit of $750,000 – 2g 12a 14 pts +8 in 72 gp for NYI – turns 46 in March; Danny DeKyser – coming off a cap hit of $5 mil – 0g 11a 11pts -8 in 59 gp for Det – turns 33 in March;
G: Braden Holtby – record of 10-10-1 – 2.78gaa and a .913 Save % in 22 starts for Dallas – turns 33 in Sept;
The thought of Kessel on an RBA coached team was a good chuckle, thanks!
Trading Jake Allen to VGK might be interesting for the Habs who intend to use this season rebuild and develop.
All depends on how much advantage can they take of the situation.
Armia- $3.4 x 3
Byron- $3.4 x 1 potential LTIR for the year,
Allen- $2.875 x1
Lehner’s LTIR would cover the cost
Habs would want futures but VGK don’t have the draft picks so two prospects would do the job.
Brendan Brisson- 20 y/o LW
Kaeden Korczak – 21y/o RHD
Dan Klingerski suggesting Brian Dumoulin as one of the Penguins could be dealt to become cap compliant. Let me ask next season Who plays with Kris Letang? Other than Dumoulin finding another defenseman playing well with Kris Letang is not easy. Last season Dumoulin was playing with an injury. ??? Dumoulin is fully recovered ??? once again for the 2022/2023 season Dumoulin may lead the Penguins in +/- department. Will agree Klingerski saying, “Kasperi Kapanen could be another despite signing a two-year deal worth $3.2 million annually.”
@ speed Kills…I agree Dumoulin isn’t going anywhere he will bounce back.
I think pettersson now stays to play with Petry..
Kapanen Zucker Pierre Oliver Joseph and maybe Bluger most go.
I think Teddy Blueger Pierre oliver Joseph and a pick or prospect can get us Max Comtois. ANAHEIM.
He is Rakells good buddy which will bring out the best in both.
He is 23 6ft 2. 210 scored 16 goals 2 years ago would get that again playing in Pittsburgh.
Look 23 year Poehling who they acquired in the Petry deal can replace Blueger.
They acquired young former 1st round pick Ty Smith for a reason can play with Rutta..he has options joseph doesn’t.
If smith doesn’t work out aNd i think he will rudwhedel or Friedman can olay with rutta thied pair.
Take any defensemen off the Bruins roster for Dumoulin except Mcavoy and Lindbergh.Yes you can have Carlo.
Steve R, no thanks, i keeping Carlo
At this point, Steel could be simply an AHL filler for someone, but Milano I see being signed during camps and pre-season when inevitably someone gets banged up.
The wrong #17 is wearing the B’s uniform … make it work Sweeney
Foligno. Would have to be part of it. So not going to happen